Has anyone experienced not receiving what they ordered? I bought a Drake's scarf and Ray-Ban sunglasses from The Gentlemen's Corner and only received the scarf. I have tried to contact them three times, but they do not respond. Is it possible to receive a partial refund through PayPal?

I think part of the answer for #1 is because the average dude just doesn't know all the different terms for types of shoes so if you're more of a mass producing mainstream brand it's easier to call a bunch of shoes oxfords than break them down correctly and have your customer not know what the hell you're talking about.

#2 unsure because I dislike loafers but what you said would seem to make sense.

I like the forum a lot. I have learned a lot lurking here the past six months. It's nice to know more than the salesmen at the mall.

Question:

Some of the buttons on my sportcoats are coming loose. It seems like I will have to fix them soon. I want to sew them back on myself. I checked out a couple of DIY's on the internet and the process seems simple. However, if I do it myself the thread will now be visible on the inside of the jacket because I will punch all the way through both layers of fabric. Currently the buttons are sewn through only the outer layer of cloth and are not visible from the back.

I don't have a problem personally with the thread showing from the back, I just want to make sure I am not unintentionally making some sort of epic sartorial blunder before I proceed. Thanks for any help. You guys are great.

Edit:

Almost forgot, what about this notion of applying clear nail polish or similar to the thread on buttons to improve longevity. Yay or nay?

1: Why are so many shoes with open lacing advertised as Oxfords? I thought Oxfords were ipso facto closed laced, and open laced shoes were derbies.

2: When is it appropriate to wear tasseled loafers? Anything below a suit in formality and above jeans? Trousers and odd jacket? Chinos and sweater?

Thanks,

J

1. What Ryan said. You will also see all oxfords referred to as "balmorals" in the US, as well as "oxfords" to mean any kind of shoe that is considered (by the vendor) to be "formal". By definition a derby/gibson/blucher* isn't ever formal, but there are nevertheless plenty that are sold (and worn) as classic business dress. You can't change the world, just sneer quietly to yourself. Then you're practically English.

2. Not what Ryan said. Well, only in the sense that most people see all classic menswear as for "old men". Tasseled loafers are casual shoes - outdoor slippers, if you will. With the tassels, I suppose they are even more like slippers than other loafers. They are the quintessential lazy shoe, along with their Prince Albert and Belgian cousins. So what you said, really. I'd never wear them with a suit, probably not with a jacket and definitely not with a tie. But chinos or jeans with a sweater or just a shirt, absolutely. N.B. Jeans do not have to be denim. Just saying.

1. In American English, a shoe with laces is an oxford. A shoe with closed laces is a balmoral, and a shoe with open laces is a blucher. The UK usage I tend to see (this is basically online) often calls any shoe with closed laces an oxford and any shoe with open laces a derby. Those are nicer words, but they're still generalizations.

2. As a very square American, I think tassel loafers are the dressiest loafer, and the best suited to wearing with a suit or blazer. In the American canon, they're most at home with a navy blazer and gray flannels -- that slightly odd in-between level of formality.

I was being a little snarky when I said old men, but that's because I prefer venetians, or maybe pennies. But there's nothing wrong with tassles; very trad. I think they used to have a stereotypical association with lawyers.

Hello all,
I like the forum a lot. I have learned a lot lurking here the past six months. It's nice to know more than the salesmen at the mall.

Question:
Some of the buttons on my sportcoats are coming loose. It seems like I will have to fix them soon. I want to sew them back on myself. I checked out a couple of DIY's on the internet and the process seems simple. However, if I do it myself the thread will now be visible on the inside of the jacket because I will punch all the way through both layers of fabric. Currently the buttons are sewn through only the outer layer of cloth and are not visible from the back.

I don't have a problem personally with the thread showing from the back, I just want to make sure I am not unintentionally making some sort of epic sartorial blunder before I proceed. Thanks for any help. You guys are great.

Edit:
Almost forgot, what about this notion of applying clear nail polish or similar to the thread on buttons to improve longevity. Yay or nay?

Why will you go through both layers? Just use the needle to pick only the top layer and stitch through it. I have read about using clear nail polish to keep the threads from loosening but have not tried it.